2016 Christmas Bird Count Results

The 46th consecutive (and 63rd overall) Moscow-Pullman Christmas Bird Count was 17 December 2016. It was cold; the high/low temps were 12 F and -11 F, with 4 to 16 inches of snow cover. All still water was frozen and only minimal amounts of moving water were open. We had 51 participants (3 shy of our all-time high; 34 as part of 17 field teams and 17 watching feeders) who spent almost 37 hours driving 266 miles, 46.5 hours walking 44.5 miles, and 20.5 hours watching feeders. We tallied 70 species, better than our 10-y average of 67. New records include 11 BALD EAGLES (5; 2011, 2012, 2013 ), 1748 HORNED LARKS (695; 2008 ), 8 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (3; 2002), and 124 VARIED THRUSHES (58; 1987). One new species was added to our record book: RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER photographed on the Washington State University campus. For the second straight year, an ANNA’S HUMMINBIRD was seen count day, this time on the Washington side. Despite the lack of moving water, we tallied a respectable 7 species of waterfowl. We tied our NORTHERN PINTAIL (1; 2006) and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (9; 2005, 2010 ) records and recorded 3 Count Week species: NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PRAIRIE FALCON, and BARN OWL. Combined, we counted 15816 birds, edging out our previous record of 15592 (2014). Some other tidbits: (1) The number of EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES, having increased exponentially since their appearance in 2007, dropped precipitously this year, whereas the number of MOURNING DOVES was the second highest count tallied (336; 389 in 2003); (2) our 6 “Harlan’s” RED-TAILED HAWKS bested our former record (4; 2015); (3) 2 odd NORTHERN FLICKERS were observed (one a pure Yellow-shafted [Count Week] and one showing traits of Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted); (4) we potentially tallied 3 “Cassiar” DARK-EYED JUNCOS (and discovered how tricky it is to differentiate them); and (5) 2 SNOW BUNTINGS on the Moscow side were the first recorded in Latah County since 1994. Thanks to everyone who participated!